Stunned at first, Fritsch now excited about joining Greyhounds

"I'm shocked. I didn't see it coming at all," said the 18-year-old Fritsch, the newest member of the Soo Greyhounds.

The six-foot, 180-pound left-winger was dealt to the Hounds Wednesday in a deal that sent disgruntled centre Daniel Catenacci to the Owen Sound Attack.

A Brantford, Ont., native, Fritsch said he was informed he'd been dealt at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday by Attack general manager Dale DeGray.

Hounds GM Kyle Dubas, a former player agent who represented Fritsch before being hired by the Ontario Hockey League team, called to welcome him to Sault Ste. Marie 15 minutes later.

The trade has officially been announced as Fritsch and a second-round draft choice in 2014 to the Greyhounds in exchange for the 18-year-old Catenacci, who requested a trade in mid-July.

Catenacci, the first player taken overall in the 2009 OHL draft, led the Hounds in scoring last season with 26 goals and 45 assists.

Meantime, there's been speculation import players are also involved in the transaction.

And Yahoo! Sports is reporting the Hounds and Attack will also exchange players taken in the 2011 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.

According to the report, the Soo wound send Russian defenceman Yegor Malenkikh to the Attack in exchange for Swedish-born winger Michael Schumacher, a seventh-round pick of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings this year.

When asked Wednesday about the import element to the trade, Dubas refused comment.

"I really couldn't believe it," Fritsch said of the morning's events. "At first, I thought that the Sault is a lot farther from home than Owen Sound."

But Fritsch, a sixth-round selection of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, said knowing Dubas helped him warm to the idea of changing teams.

"We have a really good relationship and him being the GM makes this easier," said Fritsch, who finished third among Owen Sound's regular season scorers last season. "I have a lot of confidence in Kyle."

After playing in two games and scoring once for the Niagara IceDogs last season, Fritsch was dealt to Owen Sound, where he scored 27 times and assisted on 35 others in 58 games.

Originally chosen by the IceDogs in the third round of the 2009 OHL draft, Fritsch also recorded a plus-minus rating of plus-17.

A lower-body injury suffered late in the regular season limited Fritsch to just seven playoff games for the Attack.

He finished with a pair of assists as Owen Sound went on to win the OHL championship.

Once the initial shock of being traded began to wane Wednesday, Fritsch said he's "actually really excited now. I definitely think there's good talent on the Greyhounds."

Having been through a lengthy championship run last season, Fritsch said he hopes to bring that experience into the Hounds dressing room.

He believes he can contribute offensively while also being a good character player.

"I think we have all the pieces to be a good team," Fritsch added. "I think everyone in the Sault will be quite happy with what we can do."

Still, leaving friends and teammates in Owen Sound won't be easy.

Fritsch enjoyed his time with the Attack, but realizes he now must move on.

"After last season, Owen Sound is going through a rebuild this year," he said. "I think no one knows what to expect from us (the Greyhounds). But I think we can make a lot of noise in the West."